You Are Here audiobook

Thomas M. Kostigen begins his eye-opening new book on the world's environmental challenges in the Middle East, where pollution and neglect are steadily destroying the ancient sites that are the foundation of the Abrahamic faiths. I've seen this with my own eyes (there's a shocking crack in the retaining wall of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem big enough to climb through -- if you were a bit more nimble than me and didn't mind causing religious riots...) In "You Are Here: Exposing the Vital Link Between What We Do and What that Does to Our Planet" Kostigen travels from Borneo to Bombay (ok, Mumbai) on the trail of the trash and pollution that will be our bequest to future generations unless we heed some of the extremely practical advice he gives on energy and water saving (it isn't just about not flushing when you pee). He brings it all home when he returns to his apartment in Santa Monica, California, and drives slowly behind a recycling truck, watching vast amounts of paper drop out of blue bins. (Read a newspaper for one year and you've consumed four trees, he notes. Does that make you want to recycle?) I live in Jerusalem, which recycles only a third as much of its waste as the average of Israeli cities, and Israeli cities aren't exactly on the forefront of environmental issues. Wherever you live, Kostigen let's you know how you and your town can do better. An inspiring read which succeeds in making an often technical subject into a moving mission statement for us all.Kostigen's website is www.readyouarehere.com.

I found it really interesting to read a decade-old book about climate change. One thing that separates this book from others is connections Kostigen makes between our daily actions (water usage, waste, etc) with climate change and other impacts to people around the world. It was interesting comparing the approach to climate change a decade ago to how things have shaped up since then. Its subtle but the differences are there. We don't hear about reduce, reuse, recycle, even though a circular economy is still important today. It's been interesting watching the commercialization of sustainability efforts and products. I'm definitely a sucker for those products but I wonder how genuine or impactful these efforts are. Anyway, I enjoyed this book -- especially the stories that took me beyond just the US but to places like Mumbai.

This was an interesting book. The information presented in it brings nothing new to someone already familiar with environmental issues but the way the author wrote about them still made a great impact.

Everyone in the world should read this book. You would never throw anything AWAY again without forethought.

The author travels to several focal points on today's environmental front and manages to tie in what is happening in these trouble spots with our everyday habits that, it turns out, have global consequences. He visits Mumbai, India, where people have to recycle virtually everything in order for the city not to become literally flooded with garbage. He catches a glimpse of our possible future when he stops in Linfen City, China, one of the most polluted spots on Earth due to multiple coal fired manufacturing plants, and sees rainforest destruction firsthand in Borneo and the Amazon, where a cycle of deforestation precedes industrial agricultural production of palm oil and soybeans which result in depleted oxygen in the atmosphere. Other stops in Alaska (melting ice flows and disappearing shorelines), Hawaii (a garbage patch twice the size of Texas caught up in the Pacific Ocean's currents), New York (the world's largest landfill at Fresh Kills, now closed), the Great Lakes (where battle lines are beginning to be drawn around fresh water sources) and Jerusalem, Israel (where the monuments of three world faiths are fast eroding from air pollution) underscore today’s major environmental crises. Kostigen’s final ruminations on his return home to California reveal how such seemingly minor things as turning off the faucet when brushing one's teeth or shaving, turning out lights when leaving rooms, setting the thermostat a bit warmer in summer or cooler in winter, or recycling more and throwing out less can indeed have positive repercussions in the far corners of today’s world, as well as in our own backyards. He explains it all quite succinctly, never losing hope that a more enlightened future is at hand, in a snappy narrative that is a fast read. If you only pick up one book on the environment this year, you couldn't go wrong with this one.

This book makes you really think about how we are all connected on this planet and how everything each of us does, choices we make, affect each other.It's written well, highly informative and thought provoking. The only reason I didn't give it five stars is because after reading it I felt very depressed and defeated. I didn't feel there was enough info on how each of us can really make a difference. Maybe there was and I focused on the negative, I don't know. I just know it scared the pee out of me.I don't think I'll ever be able to buy a new computer without thinking what happens to all of our old ones.We definitely need to wake up and change how we live, this book will give you that insight. Reader beware: I found it to be very discouraging. I still would recommend it to everyone, I would just prefer it had some upbeat ideas in it with more hope for mankind. I recycle, I don't drink out of plastic bottles, I conserve water and try my best to conserve energy-use around our house. I grow my own garden. After reading this book, I realize I need to do much, much more than that.I had already changed my mind about buying everything "new" a while back. But there are some things that I see American's and other developed nations will have trouble giving up(including me), new appliances, new TV's, new computers--it's a constantly changing technical world out there and everyone wants to have the latest and best model. My parents kept a refrigerator for over twenty-five years. Now we are lucky if we can squeeze ten years out of one. So ask yourself, if 75% of the population is buying this stuff new, what's happening to the old appliances etc. that we toss? Read this book to find out.

Great information that everyone should have! Unfortunately, I can see how this book would be hard to get through unless you’re really into the subject. If you’re tempted to put the book down, please skip to the Great Lakes chapter. It’s highly digestible, memorable, and has lots of simple actions you can undertake to help. I particularly liked the idea of advertising virtual water use. I know it would make a difference in my consumption. An anecdote that I must share… This afternoon I was outside, reading the last few chapters, when one of the ropes on my hammock broke. “Well,” I thought, “it’s almost five years old. I guess I should throw it away and buy a new one.” No, no, NO! It was just a few pages ago that I read we should only be throwing out what is extremely difficult or impossible to recycle. “OK, so I’ll toss the metal rings and wood supports, and keep the rope for who-knows-what… Or, I could add a six-inch piece of rope to re-attach the ends and use the whole hammock for a few more years!” That is the kind of paradigm-shift that I expect everyone will achieve after reading this book. The information is so powerful you can’t help but think twice – or three times – about your everyday actions.Passing this to a friend who showed an interest. Keep it moving, Am!

I enjoyed reading this book - it brought me back to my university days of reading more factual text that made me think. For me it was also a nice break from travel only reading I have been doing lately. This book allowed me to travel to different areas and learn about world problems we have caused there. I nice little read.

This book was very eye-opening. It was educational, but in a conversational tone and was not at all preachy. I actually enjoyed Thomas Kostigen's dialogue, while learning facts and statistics. The stories of his travels were inspiring and thought-provoking. I recommend this book to everyone.

Great information! Very readable. The author very successfully links environmental issues to the personal every day living on this planet while giving some simple things to do to help change the health of our planet. You are Here

I just think everyone should be required to read this book! All of the exact facts and numbers can make it seem a little like a textbook, but the knowledge gained here may prove to be much more useful than most of what welearned in school.

Okay, well I'm actually "reading" the CD version.Amazing...Very informative...I learned about things and places I didn't even know existed.A MUST READ (or listen) BOOK!!!!

Everyone should read this book.

This is a very good book. It tells how what we do effects what happens to other people all over the world. Well written.

A book we should all read to learn more about the planet and our role in keeping it healthy

Makes you really think about the effects of our capitalistic society and gives you ideas on how you can change your habits.